Bill W. and Dr. Bob

Playing at the Soho Playhouse located 15 Van Dam Street. It runs two hours ten minutes with one intermission. The play is booking until March 30, 2014.

The play first opened in New York at the New World Stages on March 5, 2007. It ran for one hundred two performances. Bil W. and Dr. Bob closed on June 10, 2007. This production opened on July 8, 2013.

Deborah Hedwall received an Obie Award and a Drama Desk nomination for “Sight Unseen” in 1992.

The play begins in 1928. William Wilson “Bill W” (Patrick Boll) is a stock broker. He is successful in his job, until the stock market crash. Dr. Bob Smith (Timothy Crowe) is a surgeon from Ohio. Both are alcoholic’s.

The story revolves around their lives and their chance meeting. William gets Dr. Bob sober. Their wives Anne Smith (Deborah Hedwall) and Lois Wilson (Denise Cormier) love the men they are married to but resent the life they are living.

These men keep each other sober. In doing so, they want to do the same for others. Bit by bit they do and become the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935.

This is a touching story of two men’s struggle and how they stay sober so that they can help others.

The cast works well with each other. Outstanding are “The Man” Michael Fredric and “The Women” Blair Sams. Each plays several roles.

The set is the best off off Broadway production I’ve seen. It was done by Wilson Chin. The wall in the back ground is filled with liquor bottles. The counter of the bar flips and becomes a bed. Props are brought in and out. They all add to the story.

The play is worth seeing especially if you are interested in learning in the history of the founders of A A. Bill W and Dr. Bob is a nice bio play.

Review by Rozanna Radakovich

Pictures by Annazor.

To read a candid interview with the cast, scroll down to the left for recent photos. Click on recent photos for this and other shows.